Dispensing apparatus



1952 R. w. O'SHAUGHNESSY ,3 2

DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed April 16, 1949 N; m ma" BY 53 INVENTOR 93 3 r?- 77 1952 R. w. o'sHAuGHNEssY 82,

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PAT NT GFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularly to coin controlled apparatus for dispensing cigarettes, candy bars and like packaged products.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide such dispensing apparatus which is extremely simple in construction and low in cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a coin operated dispensing mechanism which is reliable in operation and which will stand up under conditions of severe and constant to without getting out of order or requiring repairs.

Another object is to provide such a coin controlled dispensin apparatus which is adequately protected against being operated by anything other than a coin of the proper denomination, simple means being provided to reject slugs made of a magnetically permeable metal; to prevent operation by coins smaller than the denomination with which the apparatus is set to operate; to prevent the insertion of larger coins; and to render difiicult the operation of the dispenser by means of wires, jarring the machine and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide such dispensing apparatus which can readily be made in any desired number of multiples to accommodate any desired quantity of merchandise and in which the merchandise is directly visible so as to attract the purchaser to the apparatus as Well as to insure that the purchaser gets the article which he desires.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus in which each article is dispensed by an individual coin operated dispensing mechanism so that if any one of these mechanisms should become inoperative it is merely necessary to avoid refilling that particular compartment, the rest of the apparatus remaining in completely operative condition.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which can be easily refilled and otherwise serviced, particularly in point of keeping the apparatus in a clean and satisfactory condition.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a coin controlled apparatus embodying the present invention, a part of one end being broken away to show the interior'construction.

' Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken at the front elevations indicated byline 2--2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 8" is an enlargedvertical transverse section taken on line 3--3, Fig. 1, this view showing 2 at the right the article containing compartment latched to hold an article to be vended, and at the left the article containing compartment unlatched and opened to provide access to the compartment.

In order to display the merchandise and attract the purchaser as well as to emphasize the clean and sanitary condition of the apparatus, substantially the entire apparatus is preferably made of transparent plastic sheets and rods, the only metallic parts being the permanent magnets, the magnetically permeable bars coacting with certain of these magnets, the fastenings for these magnets and hinge pins forming part of the apparatus. However, the invention is not, of course, limited the use of any particular material.

The dispensing apparatus is shown as com prising a rectangular box-like base indicated generally at e and having longitudinal walls 5, an end wall 5 and a bottom iii. To remove the money from the apparatus the end of the base 5 opposite the wall ii is left open, the opening, indicated at 9, being closed by a hinged door as hereinafter described. To support the opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom ill a pair of rods l2 of transparent plastic material are cemented or otherwise secured to each of the longitudinal walls 6 and to the bottom it in the corners therebetween as best shown in Fig. 3.

The body of the dispensing apparatus, indicated generally at it, is of rectangular box-like form and includes a pair of vertical rectangular and panels or Walls i i, one of which is cemented or otherwise secured to the inner face of the end Wall 3 of the base and rises therefrom. The body it also includes lower vertical longitudinal panels or walls 55, each cemented or otherwise secured to the inner face of the corresponding longitudinal wall 6 of the base and rising therefrom, the ends of these panels it being cementitiously secured to the corresponding vertical edges of the end panels or walls M. The top of the body is enclosed by a rectangular horizontal cover panel 56, this cover panel being cementitiously secured at its ends to the upper edges of the end walls or panels it! and being secured alongits opposite longitudinal edges to vertical longitudinal strips i! which aline with the bottom panels it of the body and are secured at their ends to the corresponding vertical edges of the vertical end panels l 4.

The opening 8 or open end of the base 5 is shown as closed by a door is hinged, as indicated at 19, to the outer face of the corresponding vertical end panel M and closing against the adjacent end edges of the vertical longitudinal walls 6 and bottom it of the base 5. A look (not shown) can be provided for this door.

A pair of rectangular partitions 20 is arranged longitudinally within the body l3, these partitions being arranged centrally of the body is in spaced relation to each other and to the longitudinal walls is of the body and being secured along their horizontal upper edges to the horizontal cover panel it and along their vertical end edges to the end walls i lof this body. The space between each of these partitions 2B and the adjacent longitudinal side of the apparatus is divided into a plurality of article receiving compartments 2i by a series of rectangular vertical transverse partitions 22. Each of these transverse partitions 22 is secured along its upper horizontal edge to the underside of the cover it and along its rear edge to the corresponding longitudinal partition 26. Each of these transverse partitions is secured along its vertical front edge to a vertical guide member each of these vertical guide members being H-shaped in cross section and being secured to the inner faces of the corresponding longitudinal body panel and longitudinal strip ll so as to provide a pair of opposing vertical channels 2% for each compartment Each pair of these opposing channels receives and guides a rectangular slide 25, each of these slides also preferably having a knob projecting from its outer face. These slides, when unlatched, are free to slide downwardly so as to expose the corresponding compartment ii for the removal of the contents thereof, the lower end of each slide dropping into the base 5 of the apparatus, this dropping movement being limited by the engagement of its knob 25 with the upper edge of the corresponding longitudinal panel 55 of the body.

Each compartment 2i is formed to provide a vertical coin way 27 along the rear wall thereof, each of these coin ways being provided by a vertical partition 28, this partition being secured along its opposite vertical edges to the corresponding pair of transverse partitions 22 and along its upper horizontal edge to the underside of the cover It. The upper end of each of these partitions 28 inclines upwardly and outwardly to provide an upwardly enlarging throat 29 as best shown in Fig. 3. To permit the insertion of a coin into each of the coin ways 21, a pair of longitudinal coin slots 30 are provided in the cover [3, each coin receiving slot 30 being in alinement with the throats 29 at the upper ends of the corresponding row of coin ways 21. To protect the coin ways 21 against insertion of sticks or wires to operate the dispensing mechanism, a coin slide 3! is provided above each opposite pair of compartments 2 l These slides 31 are mounted on the cover panel to slide transversely of the dispenser and for this purpose are guided in horizontal ways 32 provided by guide strips 33 cementitiously secured to the upper face of the top panel it above the transverse partitions 22. The slides 31 are retained in the ways 32 by a horizontal plate 34 extending longitudinally of the dispenser at the center thereof and cementitiously secured to the upper sides of the strips 33 which form these transverse ways. Each slide 31 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending knobs 35 at its opposite ends by means of which the slides 3i slide back and forth in the ways 32 transversely of the dispenser to the extent permitted by engagement of these knobs 35 with the longitudinal edges of the top plate 34. Each slide 3! is also provided with a pair of round coin receiving holes 36 at its opposite ends and which are of a diameter to fit a coin of the proper denomination. These coin receiving holes 3% are arranged to be exposed in the centered position of each slide 3| and the top plate 36 is of sufficient width to extend over the coin slots 3c of the cover panel It. It will therefore be seen that in order to get a coin into any coin chute 21, a coin not larger than the proper denomination must be placed in the corresponding coin receiving hole 36 of a slide 3i and this slide, through one of its knobs 35, slid in a direction to bring this hole into register with the corresponding coin slot 39 thereby to drop the coin into the throat 29 of the corresponding coin chute 27.

Each of the compartments 2i is provided with a bottom for supporting the article to be vended therein and for this purpose a pair of horizontal bottom panels t2 are provided along the opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus, each of these bottom panels being arranged along the corresponding row of compartments 2% and being cementitiously secured to the bottom edges of the transverse partitions 22 between the compartments 21 of each row. Along their inner edges each of these bottom panels 12 is cemented to the lower horizontal edges of the corresponding vertical partitions 28 forming the coin chutes 2? and the outer edges of these horizontal bottom panels 42 are secured to the inner faces of the vertical guide members 23.

Means are provided for releasing each vertical slide 25 when a coin of the proper denomination is dropped into the corresponding coin chute 2?. For this purpose a coin released latch in the form of a bar it of transparent material is associated with and arranged directly under each of the compartments 21. Each of these latches is pivoted, as indicated at 46, to a rod 43 extending lengthwise of the casing and suitably secured at its ends to the opposite end walls [4 thereof. These rods 48 are arranged in spaced relation to the corresponding longitudinal side panel l5 of the casing and adjacent to but spaced from the outer ends d9 of the corresponding row of latches 5, these ends serving to support the lower edges of the corresponding slides 25. The inner end of each of the latches 45 is arranged to bear against the lower edge of a corresponding longitudinal partition 20 and to releasably hold each latch 15 in this position, each latch 55 extending beyond the corresponding longitudinal partition 2% and being provided along the inner side of the partition 28 with a block 58 of magnetically permeable material, this block being secured to the latch 45 in any suitable manner as by the bolt 51 shown. Each permeable block 53 cooperates with a permanent magnet 52, this permanent magnet being of any suitable form but preferably being made of an alloy of high magnetic strength and being shown as secured, as by a bolt 53, to a shelf 54 of transparent plastic or the like. This shelf projects inwardly from the corresponding partition 2! The base and lower part of the casing I 3 form a large chamber 58 which receives the falling coins, as well as the falling slides and falling latches 45.

In the operation of the apparatus each of the compartments 2! is filled with an article to be vended, such as a package of gum, a wrapped candy bar, a pack of cigarettes, or the like, the Weight of the article being immaterial since they are supported on the bottom panels :32. Since a row of the compartments 2! is provided along both longitudinal sides of the dispenser it will be seen that a large number of such articles can be vended by the apparatus as shown, without refilling.

With the compartments 2! filled and with the parts in the operative position shown, the purchaser Selects the article exhibited throughthe corresponding transparent slide 25 and inserts a coin of the proper denomination in the coin receiving hole directly above the compartment 2! containing the selected article. This coin receiving hole 55 is in the corresponding slide 3 i and if this hole is-not exposed, the purchaser pulls the adjacent knob 35 so as to move the slide in its way 32 in the direction to draw the coin receiving hole 35 from under the top plate 36 and expose it. The purchaser thereupon pushes this knob 35 in the opposite direction, this sliding the slide 5! so as to bring the hole 35 containing the coin into register with the coin receiving slot 35 of the cover panel iii of the dispenser. When this occurs the coin falls from the coin receiving hole 56 of the slide 3! through this coin receiving slot 35 of the cover panel I5 into the enlarged throat 25 of the coin chute 27 of the compartment 2i containing the selected article.

This coin thereby falls down the corresponding coin chute 2'! and strikes the rear end of the corresponding latch 45. With a coin of the proper denomination its weight and momentum is suihcient to drive the rear end of this latch downwardly so as to separate its magnetically permeable block 55 from the concentrated field of the corresponding permanent magnet 52. This swings this block out of the efiective field of this permanent magnet and hence the inner end of the latch d5 swings downwardly thereby to lift its outer end :35 and to lift the corresponding slide 25. It will be seen that the weight of the magnetically permeable block 55 serves to aid in so lifting the corresponding slide 25. As the catch 55 swings toward the full line position shown at the left of Fig. 3, it swings from under the lower edge of the corresponding slide 25 and hence this slide is free to fall to the full line position shown at the left of Fig. 3, the knob 25 operating to limit the downward movement of the slide. The purchaser now has access to the compartment 28 containing the selected article and has merely to reach into this compartment and remove the selected article therefrom.

The coin, after opening the latch 45 of the selected compartment, falls to the bottom of the compartment 58 and onto the bottom l0 thereof, the coins collecting on this bottom.

To remove the coins from the apparatus the operator merely opens the door 58, which can be provided with a suitable look (not shown), and by tilting the dispenser the coins can be slid out through the opening 9 into a collecting bag.

In the event that it is attempted to operate the dispensing apparatus with a slug of magnetipresent invention cally permeable metal, this slug is arrested by the permanent magnet 55 associated with the selected compartment 2|. It will be noted that these permanent magnets 55 are arranged near the upper ends of the coin chutes 2! so that the coin has little momentum when it comes under the influence of these magnets.

If the purchaser attempts to use too large a coin he finds it impossible to place it in the coin receiving hole 35 of any of the slides. If the purchaser uses too small a coin the weight and momentum of such undersized coin is insufiicient to drive the latch 45 downwardly with suflicient force to move the corresponding magnetically permeable bar 50 out of the effective influence of the corresponding permanent magnet 52 and hence the merchandise cannot be removed when undersized coins are used. The top plate 34 and the slides 3! also eifectively prevent any attempt to push the latches 45 downwardly by inserting wires or the like into the coin chutes 21. It has also been found that with permanent magnets 52 of properly selected strength the latches 45 cannot be opened by jarring the apparatus.

In order to refill the apparatus with merchandise the operator has merely to fill the various empty compartments 2!, the slides 25 of which are, of course, in the full line position shown at the left of Fig. 3 so that the articles can be readily inserted into the compartments 2 I. The operator then inverts the apparatus so that all of the slides 25 slide into the full line position shown at the right of Fig. 3 and so that all of the latches 45 swing to bring their magnetically permeable blocks 50 into the concentrated fields of the permanent magnets 52, thereby to reestablish the latched condition of these latches. Accordingly, upon righting the apparatus, all of the slides 25 are supported in the elevated position shown at the right of Fig. 3 and the dispenser is restored to the condition originally assumed at the start of the operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the provides an extremely attractive, simple and pilfer-proof coin-operated dispensing mechanism and which is strong and durable in construction so as to withstand the rough usage to which mechanisms of this character are frequently subjected.

I claim:

1. A coin controlled dispensing apparatus comprising a casing having a compartment for the article to be vended, a closure for said cornpartment and movable to an open position in which the contents of the said compartment are accessible, a straight vertical coin chute in said casing arranged alongside and extending the full height of said compartment and having its upper end arranged to receive a coin, a swinging latch member having a vertically movable part arranged below the lower end of said coin chute and said latch member in the elevated position of said movable part being arranged to engage and latch said closure in its closed position, and a magnet and magnetically permeable member, one mounted on said latch member and the other on said casing and normally holding said movable part of said latch member in an elevated position under the lower end of said coin chute, said chute being of sufiicient height whereby said movable part of said latch member is driven downwardly to remove said magnetically permeable member from the concentrated field of said magnet by the impact of a coin of the proper size falling the full height of said coin chute and striking said movable part of said latch member.

2. A coin controlled dispensing apparatus comprising a casing having a compartment for the article to be vended, a closure for said compartment and movable to an open position in which the contents of the said compartment are accessible, a straight vertical coin chute in said casing arranged alongside and extending the full height of said compartment and having its upper end arranged to receive a coin, a latch member pivoted to said casing on a horizontal axis to provide a vertically movable end arranged below the lower end. of said coin chute and said latch member in the elevated position of said movable end thereof being arranged to engage and latch said closure in its closed position, and a magnet and magnetically permeable member, one mounted on said latch member and the other on said casing and normally holding said movable end of said latch member in an elevated position under the lower end of said chute, said chute being of sufficient height whereby said movable end of said latch member is driven downwardly to remove said magnetically permeable member irom the concentrated said magnet by the impact of a coin or" the proper size falling the full height of said coin chute and striking said movable end of said latch member.

3. A coin controlled dispensing apparatus comprising a casing having a compartment for the article to be vended, a closure for said cornpartment and movable to an open position in which the contents of the said compartment are accessible, a straight vertical coin chute in said casing arranged alongside and extending the full height of said compartment and having its upper end arranged to receive a coin, a latch member pivoted to said casing at a point intermediate its ends to swing about a horizontal axis, one end of said latch member being arranged below the lower end of said coin chute and the other end of said latch member being arranged to engage and latch said closure in its closed position in the elevated position of said one end of said latch member, and a magnet and cooperating magnetically permeable member, one mounted on said latch member and the other on said casing and normall3 holding said one end oi said latch member in an elevated position under the lower end of said chute, said chute being of sufficient height whereby said one end of said latch member is driven downwardly to remove said magnetically permeable member from the concentrated field of said magnet by the impact of a coin of the proper size falling the full height of said chute and striking said one end of said latch member.

4. A coin controlled dispensing apparatus comprising a casing having a compartment for the article to be vended and the compartment having an opening through which access can be had to the article therein, a vertically movable slide closure for said compartment and falling by gravity to an open position, a straight coin chute in said casing arranged alongside and extending the full height of said compartment and having its upper end arranged to receive a coin, a latch member pivoted to said casing at a point intermediate its ends to swing about a horizontal axis, one end of said latch member being arranged under the lower end of said coin chute and the other end of said latch member being arranged to engage and directly support said slide closure and latch said slide closure in its closed position in the elevated position of said one end of said latch member, and a magnet and cooperating magnetically permeable member, one mounted on said latch member and the other on said casing and normally holding said one end of said latch member in an elevated position under the lower end of said chute, said chute being of sufficient height whereby said one end of said latch member is driven downwardly to remove said magnetical permeable member from the concentrated field of said magnet by the impact of a coin of the proper size falling the full height of said chute and striking said one end of said latch member.

R/OY W. OSHAUGHNESSY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 716,863 Cammann Dec. 30, 1902 896,767 Shattuck Aug. 25, 1908 2,442,174 May May 25, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 194,383 Germany Jan. 22, 1908 

